Positive operating combine unloader discharge door arrangement

ABSTRACT

A positive operating combine unloading discharge door which operates independent of the presence of grain in the unloading tube and is attached to the unloading tube to minimize opposition and obstruction to grain flow and completely cover the open end of the unloading tube when the unloading cycle is complete to minimize or eliminate grain loss due to grain dribble.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to an agricultural harvesting machineunloading discharge system, and more particularly, to an unloadingdischarge door arrangement which is positively controlled for openingand closing independent of grain presence or unloading auger operation,and which can be configured to provide a cohesive discharge stream ofgrain which is less susceptible to wind drift and other problems.

BACKGROUND ART

The unloading tube on a combine harvester is comprised of a cylindricalhousing, which encloses an auger. This tube is pivotally attached to thecombine so as to allow it to swing out to a deployed operationalposition substantially normal to the direction of travel and extendingupwardly for unloading, and swing into a more level, stowed positionsupported by its saddle, so as to extend rearwardly substantiallyparallel to the direction of travel the remainder of the time. Theenclosed auger has helical flighting that when the auger is rotatedcauses grain to move generally longitudinally through the unloadingtube. The discharge end of the tube is fitted with a discharge spout. Asgrain exits the spout, it falls to a separate vehicle for transport.

Typically the unloading tube has a discharge outlet in connection withthe discharge spout and an associated dribble door biased toward aclosed position partially covering the discharge outlet. Duringoperation of the auger, if present in sufficient quantity, the grainwill be pushed by the auger against the dribble door to push the dooropen. However, when only a small amount of grain is present, which isinadequate to force the door open, this grain will only press againstthe closed door.

A problem that can arise with usage of a spring loaded dribble door isthat this grain remaining in the unloading tube is susceptible todischarge and loss at inappropriate times. For instance, the grain canslosh out over the top of the door, or it can force the door open, suchas when the unloading tube is in the more level stowed position evenwith the auger not operating. This can occur, for instance as a resultof a sudden acceleration of the combine or when traversing roughterrain, ditches and the like, and can leave a quantity or strip ofgrain on the ground.

Another problem that can occur when using a spring loaded dribble dooris that, by design, the spring will oppose the opening of the door andthe discharge of grain. When smaller or irregular amounts of grain areconveyed by the auger towards the door, the door may only partially openor possibly open by varying amounts as the amount of grain varies. Theresulting discharge stream may be irregular and/or varied as influencedby the quantity of grain present making it susceptible to wind drift,which can be generally defined as sideward movement of elements of thedownward flow of grain resulting from forces exerted by windthereagainst. Even small amounts of wind drift can be significantbecause the grain is often unloaded while the combine is moving whilethe receiving vehicle is being driven or towed in parallel with thecombine over rough terrain or furrows making steering difficult. Ininstances such as environments such as the plains region of NorthAmerica, winds can be quite strong and gusty. Often the operator of thereceiving vehicle may attempt to position one side or the other of thereceiving vehicle more beneath the spout such that, with wind drift, thestream of grain will be directed more to the center of the receivingvehicle. This is facilitated by a tighter, more cohesive dischargestream of grain.

Reference in this regard, Reimer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,861, whichdiscloses an auger discharge chute with a spring loaded dribble doorthat has been observed to suffer from at least some of the aboveproblems. The Reimer discharge chute has a dribble door attached to theunloading tube discharge end by a hinge with a spring that biases thedoor to the upward or closed position. The force of the grain pushes andholds the door open during discharge operations. However, if the amountof grain being conveyed is varied or reduced, for instance, as the graintank of the combine nears empty, the force generated by the grainagainst the door may be insufficient to hold the door fully open. Thismay result in the situation discussed above, such that the grain flowstream is influenced by the position of the door as well as the amountof grain present. Here, using a spring having sufficient force to reducethe amount of grain dribbling out when the auger is not operating, isdisadvantageous. To counter the negative effects of the spring loadeddoor varying in position as a function of the spring force and theamount of grain present, the Reimer door is illustrated to be shortenedand shaped as a spout which will likely facilitate grain flow thereover,but the variable position of the door will still have an influence onthe flow path of the stream of grain, and additionally the shorteneddoor means that the discharge outlet is not fully covered when the dooris in a closed position, such that small amounts of grain can remain inthe discharge outlet region of the tube and can urge the door open atinappropriate times as discussed above. Thus, when fully open, theReimer dribble door may mating engage the chute and be removed from theflow of grain, but in any other position, the door may remain within thegrain flow an influences the position, flow path, and othercharacteristics of the stream of grain.

In addition, it appears from FIGS. 1 and 4 of the Reimer patent thatwhen the unloading door is open, it creates a V shaped groove in whichgrain can become lodged which may prevent the door from closing properlyrisking unintentional grain loss.

As another observed shortcoming of some known unloading tubeconstructions, they may include support ribs or struts which extendthrough the internal passage of the unloading tube from the wall of theunloading tube transversely through the grain flow region to the endmostbearing supporting the auger, which ribs or struts may be positioned,oriented, and/or of sufficiently large sectional extent perpendicular tothe direction of grain flow so as to have the effect of obstructing,splitting or dividing the grain flow to such an extent as to disrupt orsplit the stream of grain exiting from the discharge outlet, so as to beless cohesive, and thus more susceptible to wind drift and otherproblems.

Therefore what is sought is a discharge door arrangement for anunloading tube that overcomes one or more of the problems set forthabove, including more positive operation to facilitate emptying of grainfrom the tube, and holding the door closed when the unloading tube isnot in use. The arrangement can further include struts supporting theendmost auger bearing oriented to be only minimally obstructive suchthat a more cohesive stream of grain can be directed to the transportvehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is disclosed is an unloading tube discharge system for a combinewhich overcomes one or more of the problems set forth above includingmore positive operation to facilitate emptying of grain from the tube,and holding the door closed when the unloading tube is not in use. Thearrangement can further include struts supporting the endmost augerbearing oriented to be only minimally obstructive such that a morecohesive stream of grain is achieved.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the unloading tubedischarge system is used with a cylindrical shaped unloading tubedefining an internal passage in connection with a discharge outlet at anend of the tube, a helical auger operable for conveying grain throughthe internal passage of the tube and discharging the grain through thedischarge outlet as a stream of grain along a flow path. The inventionincludes a door sized and shaped, most preferably, for covering theunloading tube discharge outlet, the door being pivotally attached tothe unloading tube adjacent the discharge outlet, so as to be pivotallymovable between a closed position covering the discharge outletpreventing grain loss through inadvertent or unintentional opening andan open position uncovering the discharge outlet. A discharge spout ispreferably connected to the tube adjacent to the discharge outlet of theunloading tube. The invention include an actuator in connection with thedoor and selectively operable for positively moving the door to the openposition and to the closed position independent of presence of grainwithin the internal passage of the tube.

In another preferred aspect of the invention the door is attached to theunloading tube in a manner such that, when moved to the open positionthe door is located beneath the grain flow path so as not to obstruct,interfere with, influence, or oppose the flow of the stream of grain. Anadvantage is that the grain stream is not effected by a varying doorposition resulting in a more cohesive and predictable grain flow. Evenwhen only small amounts of grain are being discharged, such as when thegrain tank is nearly empty, smaller amounts of grain that fall onto thedoor will be carried by the door to its outermost edge, which is moreoutwardly from the discharge outlet compared to a shorter dribble typedoor.

As a further aspect of the invention, the cylindrical unloading tubeincludes a circumferential edge bounding the discharge outlet, the edgeincluding an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portionextending longitudinally outwardly of the lower portion.

According to yet another a preferred aspect of the invention, thehelical auger includes a helical flight extending around an auger shaftsupported for rotation about a central longitudinal axis, the flighthaving an auger surface oriented at an acute angle to the auger shaft,and a bearing supporting the shaft adjacent to the discharge outlet, thebearing being supported by one or more support arms having a thinnestsectional extent in a direction substantially parallel to the augersurface so as to aligned with the direction of grain for to minimizesplitting or division of the stream of grain.

Preferred apparatus of the system include, but are not limited to, fluidcontrolled actuators and electrically powered actuators.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified rear view of a combine unloading grain to atransport vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a simplified perspective view illustrating a discharge end ofan unloading tube of the combine of FIG. 1 with a discharge spoutpositioned for installation thereon and a discharge door of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3A is a simplified side view of the unloading tube, with dischargedoor arrangement of the invention installed thereon and illustrated in apositively closed position, with a helical auger within the tube shownin dotted lines along with a discharge spout installed on the dischargetube;

FIG. 3B is a simplified side view of the unloading tube, with dischargedoor arrangement of the invention illustrated in a positively openposition, with the auger and discharge spout illustrated in dottedlines, and a stream of grain being discharged from the discharge outletand through the spout along a flow path above the open door;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the discharge end of the tube lookingupwardly through a discharge end of the spout with the discharge door ofthe invention open to reveal an auger within the unloading tube;

FIG. 5 is a simplified schematic top view of the unloading tube with thetop portion thereof removed to show the auger and elements supportingthe end of the auger in the tube;

FIG. 6A is a simplified schematic top view of an auger of the unloadingtube supported by a prior art strut, illustrating the disruption to aflow of grain conveyed by the auger resulting from the orientation ofthe strut; and

FIG. 6B is a simplified schematic top view of the auger of the unloadingtube supported by a strut, illustrating a reduction in the disruption toa flow of grain conveyed by the auger resulting from the orientation ofthe strut according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4,5, 6A, and 6B wherein like numbers refer to like parts, FIG. 1 shows arear view of a combine 10 unloading grain to a transport vehicle 12through a cylindrical shaped unloading tube 14 and a spout 16. Grain ismoved from combine 10 through unloading tube 14 by an auger 18 (seeFIGS. 3A and 3B) in a well known manner.

According to the invention, a discharge door 20 sized and shaped tocover discharge outlet 22, is pivotally attached adjacent dischargeoutlet 22, so as to be pivotally movable from a closed position coveringdischarge outlet 22 to an open position uncovering discharge outlet 22as shown in FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B, and 4. Discharge spout 16 may connect totube 14 adjacent to discharge outlet 22 accommodating door 20 and itsattachment to tube 14 as shown in FIG. 2. Spout 16 may be held in placewith one or more hose clamps 26 or the like. In a preferred embodimentof the invention, door 20 is mounted for pivotal movement relative todischarge outlet 22 between a closed position (FIG. 3A) and an openposition (FIG. 3B), with a hinge 24, or the like, and is positivelycontrolled to the closed and open positions. Preferred apparatus forpositively controlling movements of door 20 include, but are not limitedto, an electrically powered actuator 28 as shown in FIG. 2 or fluidcontrolled actuator 30 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. It is important tonote that, because of positive control, door 20 may be openedindependent of the presence of grain in tube 14. That is, the presentinvention does not require the force of grain acting against the door toeffect opening thereof, or the absence of grain to effect closingthereof.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3B, door 20 may be attached on the periphery ofunloading tube 14 near discharge outlet 22, so that opening door 20 maycreate a separation 21 between door 20 and tube 14 at discharge outlet22. As door 20 closes, grain that may remain on door 20 will dischargethrough spout 16 or be carried back into tube 14. Because no ledge iscreated by a connection point between door 20 and tube 14 near dischargeoutlet 22, it is unlikely that grain will lodge in separation 21 toinhibit the closing of door 20.

When door 20 is in the closed position, it is positively held in thatposition by actuator 28 30 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A, and substantiallycovers discharge outlet 22 virtually eliminating the possibility ofgrain dribble or slosh from tube 14. When positively controlled to be inits open position, as shown in FIG. 3B, door 20 uncovers dischargeoutlet 22 and is positioned outside of a discharging stream of grain 25along a flow path 31. Also, when door 20 is positively held in its openposition, the force created when auger 18 moves grain through unloadingtube 14 is not required in any way to open door 20 and therefore is notdissipated by pushing and holding open a spring biased door, as isrequired in the prior art discussed above. As a result, the grain isallowed to flow unopposed, as if no door was present, such that it isdischarged in a cohesive, predictable stream 25 along flow path 31.Although shown attached to tube 14 near outlet 22, it is contemplatedaccording to the invention that door 20 could alternatively be mountedwithin spout 16 and perform in essentially the same manner.

Another aspect of the invention related to discharge outlet 22 can beseen in FIG. 2. A circumferential edge bounding discharge outlet 22 maybe slanted diagonally so that an upper portion 27 of unloading tube 14extends longitudinally outwardly of a lower portion 29 of tube 14. Thisarrangement may facilitate attachment of door 20 in the above describedmanner. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 1, this arrangement mayextend the reach of unloading tube 14 by a distance 49 as upper portion27 extends further into spout 16 than lower portion 29.

Another feature of the invention that reduces obstruction to grain flowcan be seen in a simplified schematic top view of the unloading tube 14as shown in FIG. 5. Helical auger 18 includes a helical flight 40 havingan auger surface 41 extending around an auger shaft 42 which issupported adjacent to discharge outlet 22 for rotation by a bearing (notshown) about a central longitudinal axis 43. The bearing is supported byat least one strut 32, 34, 36 having a thinnest sectional extent 44 in adirection substantially parallel to auger surface 41, which is parallelto the grain flow as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6B for reducing division ofgrain stream 25.

This effect can be understood with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. FIG. 6Ashows a typical prior art attaching member 32 a situated parallel tolongitudinal axis 43 of auger shaft 42. When grain is urged forward byauger surface 41, it approaches a prior art strut 32 a at an angle.Discharging grain impacts sectional extents 44 and 46 of strut 32 acausing a separation 50 in grain stream 25 which is relatively wide.FIG. 6B shows strut 32 of the present invention situated so that onlyits thinnest extent 44 is parallel to auger surface 41. In this case,when the grain is urged forward by auger surface 41, strut 32 isgenerally parallel to grain stream 25 minimizing separation to no morethat extent 44 which is smaller than separation 50. Notice also in FIG.6B, that strut 32 may be narrowed at a leading end 48 to graduallyinterrupt the discharging grain, possibly resulting in even lessseparation in grain stream 25. Struts 34, 36 may also be aligned withgrain stream 25 in a similar manner. Thus when grain discharges past atleast one strut 32, 34, 36, attached in an orientation so as to reduceseparation, through discharge outlet 22 without resistance orinterference from positively controlled door 20, discharge grain stream25 may be tighter, stronger and less susceptible to loss due to wind.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3B and 4, it should be noted that the bottomregion of spout 16 can be shaped to accommodate and receive door 20 whenin the open position so as to be located beneath flow path 31, and willhave a suitable opening for passage of actuator 28, 30 to door 20.Another advantage of this arrangement, at times when only a minimalamount of grain is being discharged and fall onto door 20, it will beallowed to smoothly transition onto the bottom outer surface of spout 16and easily exit.

It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps, andarrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated toexplain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made bythose skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within theprinciples and scope of the invention. The foregoing descriptionillustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however,concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in otherembodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the inventionbroadly as well as in the specific form shown.

1. An unloading tube discharge system for an agricultural combine,comprising: a cylindrical shaped unloading tube defining an internalpassage in connection with a discharge outlet at an end of the tube; ahelical auger operable for conveying grain through the internal passageof the tube and discharging the grain through the discharge outlet as astream of grain along a flow path; a door sized and shaped for coveringthe unloading tube discharge outlet, the door being pivotally mounted inconnection with the unloading tube adjacent the discharge outlet, so asto be pivotally movable between a closed position covering the dischargeoutlet and an open position uncovering the discharge outlet, wherein thedoor is attached to the unloading tube at a location below the flow pathsuch that when moved to the open position the door is located beneaththe flow path so as to allow unopposed flow of the stream of grainthereover; a discharge spout connected to the tube adjacent to thedischarge outlet of the unloading tube; and an actuator in connectionwith the door and selectively operable for positively moving the door tothe open position and to the closed position independent of presence ofgrain within the internal passage of the tube.
 2. The unloading tubedischarge system of claim 1, wherein the door fully covers the dischargeoutlet of the unloading tube when in the closed position.
 3. Theunloading tube discharge system of claim 1, wherein the actuatorcomprises a fluid controlled actuator.
 4. The unloading tube dischargesystem of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises an electricallypowered actuator.
 5. The unloading tube discharge system of claim 1,wherein the cylindrical unloading tube includes a circumferential edgebounding the discharge outlet, the edge including an upper portion and alower portion, the upper portion extending longitudinally outwardly ofthe lower portion.
 6. The unloading tube discharge system of claim 1,wherein the helical auger includes a helical flight extending around anauger shaft supported far rotation about a central longitudinal axis,the flight having an auger surface oriented at an acute angle to theauger shaft, and a bearing supporting the shaft adjacent to thedischarge outlet, the bearing being supported by at least one supportarm having a thinnest sectional extent in a direction substantiallyparallel to the auger surface for reducing division of the stream ofgrain.
 7. An unloading tube structure for a combine, including: a hollowtube having an open end connecting with an interior passage through thetube; an auger supported in the interior passage of the hollow tube andextending to a location adjacent to the open end, and operable forconveying grain along the interior passage and discharging a stream ofgrain through the open end and along a flow path; a door pivotallymounted adjacent the open end of the tube, so as to be pivotally movablebetween a closed position covering the open end and an open positionuncovering the open end, wherein when in the open position the door isdisposed in spaced relation to the flow path, and to create a separationbetween the open end and the door when the door is in the open position;a spout having an inlet end mounted on the tube adjacent the open end soas to house the door, and an open through with the flow path extends fordirecting the stream of grain flowing from the open end of the tube; andan actuator in connection with the door and operable to selectively movethe door between the closed position and the open position.
 8. Theunloading tube structure of claim 7, wherein the door fully covers theopen end when in the closed position.
 9. The unloading tube structure ofclaim 7, wherein the actuator comprises a fluid controlled actuator. 10.The unloading tube structure of claim 7, wherein the actuator comprisesan electrically powered actuator.
 11. The unloading tube structure ofclaim 7, wherein the auger is supported by at least one support armattached to the tube adjacent the open end and which is situated ingeneral alignment with the direction of the stream of grain when flowingin the vicinity of the support arm.